Who To Serve

She came to me asking me to point in a random direction as the light around her started to flicker.

Doing so, I lost consciousness and got pulled down into sleep.

[Do You Wish To Serve Razimaru?]

A faint voice whispered from behind me as if it was a secret.

'Who?'

A picture of the naked glowing female appeared before me.

'Yes! I'll follow her!'

[Pick A Name]

[Sebastian: Butler]

[Himura: Ninja]

[Kenshin: Samurai]

[Souei: Shadow Assassin Leader]

[Abe: Ancient Beast Eternal]

[Riku: Chevalier, Butler, Soldier, Bodyguard]

[Arbiter: Super Elite Soldier Leader]

[John: Super Soldier, Really Lucky And Skilled]

[Utusro: Assassin]

[Gennosuke: Assassin]

[Cayed: Joker All-Rounder]

[Gildarts: Heavy Mage]

[Buck: Loyal Lucky Super Soldier]

Not knowing the full meaning of what followed the names but I could guess based on the words.

A lot of them were assassin's, killers in shadows, many were different types of soldiers with other aspects. But none said honor and only one said loyalty.

One said a mage, but I don't know what that is.

'Buck' I replied as it was the only one who was mentioned to be Loyal and a Soldier so it knows how to fight... Maybe even knows what those shiny heavy items she dropped were called and how to use them...

[Initializing Skills And Knowledge]

[56%]

[Error!]

[Body Structure Too Different]

[Reconstruction Of Data In Progress Please Wait]

"THIEVING BASTARDS!"

She sounds mad...

Wait!

I understood her voice!

Starting at the numbers 56 slowly increasing my ears kept coming and going so I only got snippets here and there of what was said outside of my Stone Casting.

As the numbers reached 78 did I completely understand what was spoken as many declared they didn't kill any Faithfuls. At number 91 did I hear a male laughing his ass off after a thud landed before me.

[Physical And Mental Readjustments Completed]

[Due To Correction Of Errors! Name Selected Is Darien]

[Please Go Over Memories Of Skills]

[Swear By Blood Or Kiss To Access Advanced Abilities]

Memories of different skills of fighting rippled through my body as if it was burning its movements into my muscles. Multiple scars healed underneath while slightly faded on the surface as the fire ran rampant and I can't do anything about it.

Once the blazing fire subsided did my hearing come back.

"That's only if he wants a name tho." Razimaru said with a hint of sadness.

'I'll follow you, My Light!' He thought as he fully lost consciousness and fell asleep as I waited for the darkness.

********

Rushing back as quickly as we could, we slithered through the tightly packed trees as we got closer towards the base of the mountain.

Finding a decent size cave, we single filed in and climbed up the steep slopes ignoring any rocks or dirt that fell on top of us or under us as the only thing in mind was,

'We Were Lied To!'

Making it to the top of the cave where an outpost was located, most of them stopped to breathe, sob, and pray to the Light for forgiveness.

The Leader of the Hooded people also gasped for breath as his second in command came up beside him looking grim.

"Most of us don't think we can stay composed!" He said as he laid one hand on their Leader's shoulder, "We will wait for you! If what the Light had said is true... Rush past us and we will follow! If not then we will come out to meet you."

Placing a hand on top of his he replied, "So as the Light shines!" And he walked out of the outpost with his hood fully extended with a straight face.

The others shrunk their hoods in sadness as they watched the proud back of their leader leaving.

He walked through an abandoned city with small groups of gatherers doing random stuff and some trading. Making it to the center of the Silent City where the Clan Leader was with his recent new Advisor.

"I've returned with food and news!" The hooded Leader said as he entered and the Clan leader's Advisor went silent.

"What is the news you speak of?" The Advisor responded with a sneer.

"I had a chat with a Sinner, in a sunny clearing, who gave me information on where to find sources of food! I just need permission to gather a group and go for the food! " The Leader replied with proud honor and excitement to sell the information on which he was told by the Light.

Choking sounds could be heard coming from both the Clan Leader and Advisor as they stared at him in disbelief.

Generously confused, he spoke again, "Do I have permission to gather the hunters to go to the food source?"

" Let me get this straight! " Clan Leader said with a hand on his forehead, " You! '' Pointed at the Leader, " Spoke with a Sinner in broad daylight?"

" Yes! "

" How did you know he was a Sinner? "

" He said he was going to rest before catching up with the others and turned to a dark stone after letting me know where the stash of food was! " With his hands behind his back he rocked in excitement believing his own words to tell them, " May we go get the food?? "

" No! " The Advisor yelled harshly, startling him.

" It's Impossible To Speak With A Sinner In Daylight!! I Made Sure Of That!! " The Clan Leader freaked out as he shrunk further away from the light of the open door.

"?.? "

" You should have killed the Sinners the moment you saw them! " The Advisor scolded with his face becoming darker.

" Why? An Envoy Of Light was with him! "

The two became baffled at his directness as he didn't stumble over his words. An evil creepy feeling could be felt and seen coming from behind his Clan Leader as the eyes of the Advisor became fully black and the skin around them began to distort like something was moving under his skin.

"WE KILLED THE ENVOYS OF LIGHT! THERE'S NO WAY ANY OF THEM SURVIVED! " The two hollard in rage as the building shook and became scorched.

Feeling betrayed and with a sense of urgency the Hooded Leader rushed out as fast as he could leaping over houses and running on the rooftops as he booked it to the outpost without looking back.

Black smoke was following right behind him trying to nip at his heels. Some marks appeared on his backside as it had brushed against him from time to time.

"MOVE!" he yelled as loud as he could as those beneath him took shelter and those who waited for him saw the scene of something sinister trying to kill their Leader.

Many had started to run and slide back down the blessed tunnel and a few stayed behind in a ready position to grab and run.

Their Leader jumped and dashed towards them but stumbled because of the wounds not being able to handle the shock of the landing.

Without missing a beat as soon as the Second in Command saw his friend stumble as he started to fall forward, he dashed forward a few feet and grabbed his arm before pivoting and dragged his friend to the last stretch.

Passing into the tunnel where more hands grabbed them separately and pulled them down the tunnel did the smoke bounce off the entrance as if something had blocked it.

Becoming enraged, two figures within the smoke began to Hollar like banshees as they were denied entry to the tunnel and the few housings occupied by the gatherers.

At the bottom of the tunnel the men wasted no time and paired up to carry their Leader and Sub Lead to where the black tiger was waiting.

The trek was slow yet a decent pace as they took turns to carry them so that no one would fall behind. Reaching the edge of the clearing did they start to holler for help not sure if the tiger was still there or not.

Their faces and wounds looked worse than when they left and they knew they had to hurry before the sun had started to set.

Seeing the promised black tiger still there did their hopes rise!

Seeing the Light still above the Statue did most of them cry as they hauled faster.

The ones not helping carried made it to them first while panting. They all tried to speak at once, asking for help and some tried to describe the smoke and others spoke about the trek.

Razimaru got hit with the multiple frightened hooded people talking at once and with emergency energy that she held up a single hand and they all quieted down.

"What is so urgent?" She asked calmly.

So no words would clash. They all pointed in the direction of multiple people carrying two heavily wounded as fast as they could without further damage to them.

Seriousness came over Razimaru as his hands glowed green as she charged two [Healing Aura] and [Sprint] towards the stragglers.

The ghost light from her feet and a twin trail of green followed behind her as she reached them rather quickly which startled those who weren't paying attention.

"Resta!"

Clashing her hands together she released a heavy dual blast of [Healing Sanctuary] which covered the entirety of the large clearing and then some.

Two cocoons of light wrapped around the two heavily wounded ones as there were visible rapid changes.

Coming back into consciousness they blinked up at Razimaru as tears filled the Hooded Leader's eyes as he kept apologizing and repeating that he was a fool.

The second wounded one hopped up and rushed to look at the other's back baffled, as he visibly watched the deep wounds close and purify as if there was no damage to begin with.

As the pain faded away did the Hooded Leader bow down and the rest followed suit.

{Croatoan Hunting Team Submitting Detected]

[Do You Accept Them As Your Own?}

A golden screen popped up inside of my visor, presenting itself like a main quest mission.

Taking a good look at their devotional prowess, with a heavy sigh.

"Yes!"

[Congratulations For Being The First To Receive Devote Followers!]

[ERRORS DETECTED]

[Soul Petrification Detected]

[Sun Down Prison Detected]

[Experience Steal Tethering Detected]

[Do You Wish To Backlash The Listed Effects Back To Caster?]

"Yes!" She replied as she took a glance over at the black statue wondering if the same effect was on his mind as well.

[Searching For Target]

[Current Effects Will End In 16 Minutes and 7 Seconds]

The black stone shattered as he stretched just as the ones bowing on the ground turned to white marbled stone.

He looked over and instinctually dashed over and picked her up from the white stone circle and backed away before he realized she was laughing.

"What happened?" He asked out loud with a horus voice, not quite used to spoken words so his throat began to hurt.

"_^_"

She froze and stared at him.

Feeling her stiffened like stone did he cradle her in one arm and put a finger under where her helmet met her throat for a pulse.

She became even more confused as she blushed at his touch, which he noticed her face getting redder, concern filled his face as he attempted to speak again.

"Sick?"

Realization struck her, "N-no not sick!" She replied while waving her hands in front of her to indicate 'no'.

"Hurts... me." He said and grabbed his throat.

"Ah!" Reaching up gently she touched his throat and green light glowed from her hand, "I'll help!"

"So Small!" He whispered as his face was so close to her helmet she blushed harder.

[ERROR DETECTED]

[Healing Syphon To Unknown Target Not Near Empress Location! Be Advised]

Reading that red notice did she jerk her hand away startling him.

"Why?"

"Do you recognize me as your Leader?!" She said in a rush, "Something is wrong and negating or stealing my Healing! It might be the same person who turned them to stone!" She replied while pointing at the white circle.

"You... Master... Help?"

Nodding her head, " Yes! It will help... though the unanimous of your group might be better effective... If you all acknowledge me as your Leader or Master or submit to me... You Will be able to See the Sun!"

"I ask home, what do with them?" He nodded his head into their direction.

She had to think about that for a bit. Brings up the possible stats of her tigers and herself did she scroll across her multiple Void abilities.

But since she didn't have a line of sight of their base she couldn't use it.

"Yina Teleport back to the Tree and make a travel portal back to me!"

Yina pawed at the ground leaving a distinguished paw print before jumping into nothingness.

Shortly after she disappeared a large purple void colored oval appeared. Attempting to lift one of the Statues did she find it extremely hard to even budge. She tried again with a different smaller one... Still not even a nudge.

~grrrrr~ She thought to her surroundings as she was about to kick the being on the ground in front of her.

Missing just above it's head, was she being lifted off the ground.

Puzzled, by the miss of the kick, did she slowly recognize that she was being lifted up like a baby animal.

~Don't worry, we'll help from here. ~

He waved his hand forward and multiple smaller beings came forward and teamed up in threes to pick up one being and began to shuffle like crabs back through the portal.

They came back shortly after just as another team went through, they were quite efficient to move the 40 beings.

From hanging to being cradled he walked with her glowing in his arms through the portal as the last one was transported.

"I can walk!" She protested as she still let him carry her as she thought the oddities of his recent behavior was that similar to a Human.

Exiting the other end was a sight to behold. The white Statues who were bowing were placed evenly throughout the main Tree floor facing the portal with the 30 other beings behind some and were bowing at the waist.

[Lost Sanguan Race Submitting Detected]

[Adding Them To The Lost Empress Empire Automatically]

[ERROR DETECTED]

[Soul Petrification Detected]

[Sun Up Prison Detected]

[Soul Steal Tethering Detected]

[Do You Wish To Backlash The Listed Effects Back To Caster?]

"Yes!"

[Triangulating: Now Available]

[Searching]

[Caster Found]

[Delivery Of The Following Backlash]

[Soul Petrification Detected] x2

[Sun Down Prison Detected]

[Experience Steal Tethering Detected]

[Sun Up Prison Detected]

[Soul Steal Tethering Detected]

[Target: Dual Field Bosses]

[Backlash The Dual Field Bosses?]

"Yes!"

As she said the last confirmation, a dark light envelope every awakened being present.

[Duration Ended]

[Waking Up Croatoans]

The sounds of cracking stone filled the air as the 30 Sanguans started once they could see again as the dark light faded inside them.

To watch what happens when they wake up only when someone else did the reality of their previous situation finally hit home.

They had legs similar to a Human only with paws instead of feet, their heads supported a skin scaly hood that was apparently different for each and was able to be moved.

They tentatively looked up and saw their Empress cradled in the arms of a strong looking being before noticing they were surrounded.

[Envoy Of Light Added To Title]

Above the helmet of Razimaru did everyone witness the brief moment of golden glowing words before they disappeared into thin air.

[Lost Empress of Akatosh]

[Envoy Of Light]